A coalition of civil society organisations under the umbrella of Zamfara Patriotic Citizens has strongly criticised Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal for allegedly failing to honour the tripartite agreement on the implementation of the minimum wage.
The group has described his actions as a betrayal of the oath of office and the constitution he swore to uphold.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its chairman, Arc Aliyu Umar Gusau, the group accused Governor Lawal of disregarding the consensus reached by the tripartite committee, which had set the minimum salary for Grade Level 1/1 at 86,600 naira after deductions, with the highest salary for Grade Level 16/1 fixed at 312,560 naira.
However, according to the group, civil servants were instead paid significantly lower amounts, with some senior officers receiving as little as 115,000 naira.
The organisation called on organised labour unions to shut down the state until the issue is addressed, stressing that the governor’s actions undermine the welfare of Zamfara’s workforce.
It also noted that previous administrations, including that of former Governor Bello Matawalle, had implemented salary adjustments transparently, ensuring that workers benefited from proper salary tables and circulars.
“This is not the first time salaries have been increased in the state, and there are established salary structures that should guide such payments,” the statement read.
“However, Governor Lawal has chosen to ignore these guidelines, leading to discrepancies in payments. Some civil servants in Grade Level 07 received 71,500 naira, while those in Grade Level 13/4 were paid only 78,650 naira—far below the agreed rates.”
The group further alleged that the governor had deliberately deceived labour leaders and senior officials by allowing discussions on salary adjustments only to later approve what it called a “mischievous consequential adjustment.”
Aliyu alleged that Dauda instructing a select group of officials to add only 3,000 to 5,000 naira to senior civil servants’ salaries, branding it a “clear manifestation of ingratitude and lack of administrative knowledge.”
The statement warned that salaries and wages are protected by constitutional provisions, and any violation could warrant legislative action.
It called on the Zamfara State House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Lawal for what it described as a “serious crime against the state.”
